The Portland Trail Blazers fought their way through a pressure-packed playoff race to earn home-court advantage in a series, then lost it in one game.The Toronto Raptors know that problem all too well, so they want to take advantage of playing from ahead for a change.They try for their first 2-0 playoff series lead ever Tuesday night against Washington, while the Trail Blazers try to even things up in against the New Orleans Pelicans.Boston and Milwaukee play the other Game 2 on Tuesday after the Celtics pulled out a 113-107 overtime victory on Sunday.The No. 3 Trail Blazers were the highest-seeded team to lose so far, falling 97-95 on Saturday. Anthony Davis was dominant, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum were slow-starting, and the Pelicans got a couple big defensive plays down the stretch from Jrue Holiday to hold on after the Blazers nearly came back from a 19-point deficit."I think it puts some pressure on us," Lillard said. "You know, you come in with home court, the first two games... [More]

The Portland Trail Blazers fought their way through a pressure-packed playoff race to earn home-court advantage in a series, then lost it in one game.The Toronto Raptors know that problem all too well, so they want to take advantage of playing from ahead for a change.They try for their first 2-0 playoff series lead ever Tuesday night against Washington, while the Trail Blazers try to even things up in against the New Orleans Pelicans.Boston and Milwaukee play the other Game 2 on Tuesday after the Celtics pulled out a 113-107 overtime victory on Sunday.The No. 3 Trail Blazers were the highest-seeded team to lose so far, falling 97-95 on Saturday. Anthony Davis was dominant, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum were slow-starting, and the Pelicans got a couple big defensive plays down the stretch from Jrue Holiday to hold on after the Blazers nearly came back from a 19-point deficit."I think it puts some pressure on us," Lillard said. "You know, you come in with home court, the first two games... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo's meme-worthy scowl started with a look in the mirror.The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star was an NBA rookie then, trying to come up with a look he could flash after making a big play. Antetokounmpo thought about the glare his mother would throw his way when he misbehaved as a child. It took about a week to perfect as he struck poses in front of the mirror."Now it comes easy. You've just got to put your nose up like this," said Antetokounmpo, wrinkling his face after a recent practice.It can look so much more intimidating on the court.As Antetokounmpo's skills reach new heights, so does his confidence as he enters his third career postseason. The Bucks open their first-round series against the Celtics on Sunday in Boston."You don't think. It's just second nature. You're just playing now," Antetokounmpo said. "There are points when you're young, you're scared to make the wrong decision late."This is no longer the gangly, 6-foot-11 forward who would defer during... [More]

Maybe this is the year.Maybe the Golden State Warriors, opening the postseason without Stephen Curry or any momentum, won't be the best of the West, where there's a Houston team that can run and gun as well as they do.Maybe the Cleveland Cavaliers, starting from the middle of the pack in the East, just have too big a hill to climb, even with LeBron James carrying them.Or perhaps none of that matters, and the NBA is headed toward Round 4 of its reigning rivalry.The postseason opens Saturday and it's far from a guarantee it ends with a record fourth straight NBA Finals matchup between the Warriors and Cavaliers. Neither was the best team in its conference during the regular season — the Cavaliers were only No. 4 in the East — and it's not hard to envision a Houston to Toronto trip replacing what's become an annual Oakland, California, to Cleveland itinerary.Then again, the Warriors could be as dangerous as ever once Curry returns from a knee injury that could have him back for the second... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward exchanged the kind of toothy giggles normally only found between kids on a playground when they were introduced as the new faces of the Celtics."It's about to be crazy, G," Irving said in the ear of Hayward to a soundtrack of clicking camera lenses as they sat on a dais back in September two days after Boston's blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers.Seven months later, Irving has proven to be prophetic — albeit not how he had in mind.It has been crazy unlucky for the Celtics. Stunning too. Al Horford said even shocking.And though things haven't gone as scripted in Boston, the Celtics will open the playoffs at the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference believing they can win it all without their injured offseason acquisitions."Finals. I'm very confident," guard Terry Rozier when asked how far Boston can go. "Everybody has to be on the same page. And we just gotta play. And play hard."That's been Boston's calling card throughout the season.... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have spent most of the season adjusting on the fly. Now they will have to go through the playoffs without Kyrie Irving.The star point guard will need surgery on his left knee and is done for season. On Thursday, the team put his recovery time at four to five months.Irving hasn't played since March 11 and says he won't dwell on what might have been."The hardest thing to do sometimes is accept the uncontrollable things life throws at you," he wrote in an Instagram post. "It's simply a test of your perseverance and will, to be present, even in the wake of what's going on."In the upcoming surgery, two screws will be removed. They were implanted after Irving's patellar fracture during the 2015 NBA Finals. Irving recently developed an infection at the site of the screws, and now they must be taken out.Following his original procedure last month, the team had said the knee was structurally sound and the kneecap healed, but the wire had been putting pressure on... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have spent most of the season adjusting on the fly. Now they will have to go through the playoffs without Kyrie Irving.The star point guard will need surgery on his left knee and is done for season. The team on Thursday put his recovery time at four to five months.Irving hasn't played since March 11 and says he won't dwell on what might have been."The hardest thing to do sometimes is accept the uncontrollable things life throws at you," he wrote in an Instagram post. "It's simply a test of your perseverance and will, to be present, even in the wake of what's going on."In the upcoming surgery, two screws will be removed. They were implanted after Irving's patellar fracture during the 2015 NBA Finals. Irving recently developed an infection at the site of the screws, and now they must be taken out.Following his original procedure last month, the team had said the knee was structurally sound and the kneecap healed, but the wire had been putting pressure on the... [More]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Celtics say All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is set to have surgery Saturday to alleviate pain in his left knee.Irving has been out since March 11, missing the last four games. There is no timetable for his return from the "minimally invasive" procedure.Celtics coach Brad Stevens was asked before Boston's game in Portland on Friday night the ramifications of Irving's surgery."I don't know yet," Stevens said. "He's going to have it tomorrow and we'll know more about timelines after that."The knee is the same one that Irving injured in the 2015 NBA Finals that required surgery.Irving is averaging 24.4 points, 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. Friday was his 26th birthday.He is one of several key sidelined players for Boston, which is at Portland on Friday. He joins Jaylen Brown (concussion protocol), Marcus Smart (thumb surgery), Daniel Theis (knee surgery, out for season) and Gordon Hayward (ankle surgery rehab).Stevens said the team will focus on its strengths... [More]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Celtics say All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is set to have surgery Saturday to alleviate pain in his left knee.Irving has been out since March 11, missing the last four games. There is no timetable for his return from the "minimally invasive" procedure.Celtics coach Brad Stevens was asked before Boston's game in Portland on Friday night the ramifications of Irving's surgery."I don't know yet," Stevens said. "He's going to have it tomorrow and we'll know more about timelines after that."The knee is the same one that Irving injured in the 2015 NBA finals that required surgery.Irving is averaging 24.4 points, 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. Friday was his 26th birthday.He is one of several key sidelined players for Boston, which is at Portland on Friday. He joins Jaylen Brown (concussion protocol), Marcus Smart (thumb surgery), Daniel Theis (knee surgery, out for season) and Gordon Hayward (ankle surgery rehab).Stevens said the team will focus on its strengths... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics say All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is set to have surgery Saturday to alleviate pain in his left knee.Irving has been out since March 11, missing the last four games.There is no timetable for his return, but the team says his status will be updated following the "minimally invasive" procedure.He is one of several key sidelined players for Boston, which is at Portland on Friday. He joins Jaylen Brown (concussion protocol), Marcus Smart (thumb surgery), Daniel Theis (knee surgery, out for season) and Gordon Hayward (ankle surgery rehab).___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics were without six players for their game against the Washington Wizards.The team said Wednesday that Kyrie Irving will sit out with a sore left knee. Al Horford will miss his second straight game with an illness. Jaylen Brown remains in the concussion protocol. Marcus Smart sprained his right thumb and is listed as out. Daniel Theis tore a ligament in his left knee and is out for the rest of the season.That's on top of Gordon Hayward, who has been out since opening night with a broken ankle.Jayson Tatum, who was listed as probable with tightness in his lower back, was able to play and started for the short-handed Celtics.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics will be without six players — and possibly seven — for their game against the Washington Wizards.The team said Wednesday that Kyrie Irving will sit out with a sore left knee. Al Horford will miss his second straight game with an illness. Jaylen Brown remains in the concussion protocol. Marcus Smart sprained his right thumb and is listed as out. Daniel Theis tore a ligament in his left knee and is out for the rest of the season.That's on top of Gordon Hayward, who has been out since opening night with a broken ankle.Jayson Tatum has tightness in his lower back and is listed as probable for the game.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Boston Celtics were breathing a little easier after beating Minnesota on Thursday night, and their relief was about more than just the outcome.Jaylen Brown, who landed hard on his back and head following a dunk late in the third quarter, was going to be all right."It was just tough to see. I was just happy that he was able to get up and walk on his own power," teammate Al Horford said. "That's probably one of the worst falls I've seen."Brown lost his grip on the rim as he finished the play, falling awkwardly "in full backflip mode" as Kyrie Irving put it, to the court with 1:31 remaining in the period. Brown stayed down and was still for several minutes, and a stretcher was rushed out. But Brown was eventually able to walk slowly to the locker room on his own, and the crowd at Target Center gave him a standing ovation."For him to get up, that's a strong kid," Marcus Smart said. "Took everything he had. We were just happy to see him on his feet and walking off on his... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Boston small forward Jaylen Brown left the Celtics' game Thursday night at Minnesota after landing hard on his back following a dunk late in the third quarter.Brown lost his grip on the rim as he finished the play, falling awkwardly to the court with 1:31 remaining in the period. He stayed down for several minutes, and a stretcher was rushed out. But Brown was eventually able to walk slowly to the locker room on his own, and the crowd at Target Center gave him a standing ovation.The Celtics ruled Brown out for the rest of the game and announced he was being evaluated for concussion-like symptoms.Brown had 14 points and five rebounds in 28 minutes for the Celtics, who led 86-74 after three quarters. LeBron James of the rival Cleveland Cavaliers tweeted he was praying for Brown .___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

LeBron James had a trophy in his hands and a smile on his face.That was Sunday at the All-Star Game, when James again rose above the NBA's best in winning a game and MVP honors.What he really wants is to be celebrating in the postseason, not midseason.The NBA's sprint to the finish begins Thursday with James riding high but starting again from back in the pack as Cleveland tries to catch Toronto and Boston in the Eastern Conference."We just added four new guys before the break, and we have a lot of work to do," James said. "So I really don't like to think that too far ahead. But obviously winning championships is what it's all about. That's what this league is all about and hopefully at the end of the road then I have the Cavs there to actually compete for one, to be in a finals representing the East."The Golden State Warriors are also in the unusual position of pursuers, after red-hot Houston passed them for the league's best record with 10 straight wins leading into the All-Star break.... [More]

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) — When Brad Stevens studied the video of Boston's last game against Cleveland, he skipped over a handful of plays and put the sound on mute."I didn't want to watch the injury or what happened after it," the Celtics coach said on Tuesday, a day before his team was to play the Cavaliers for the first time since Gordon Hayward broke his leg in the season opener. "I just didn't want to rehash that moment, obviously."Boston's top free agent acquisition last summer, Hayward went down in a heap in the first quarter of the first game and is expected to be lost for the season. The gruesome injury cast a pall on the opener and upended the Celtics' plans to supplant the Cavaliers as Eastern Conference champions."It was the first game of the season," forward Jaylen Brown said. "When Gordon went down, it was a traumatic moment for everybody."But the game — and the season — went on.The demoralized Celtics erased an 18-point, third-quarter deficit in the opener before losing by three.... [More]

HOUSTON -- James Harden poured in a career-high 56 points, and the Houston Rockets rolled to a 137-110 victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.Harden fell one point shy of the franchise record held by Hall of Fame guard Calvin Murphy. He finished 19 of 25 from the floor, including 7 of 8 from behind the 3-pointer arc, while making 11 of 12 free throws. Harden added 13 assists.All five Utah starters scored in double figures, led by rookie guard Donovan Mitchell with 17 points off the bench.Trail Blazers 103, Thunder 99PORTLAND, Ore. -- Damian Lillard matched his season high with 36 points, including two free throws to seal Portland's victory over Oklahoma City.Lillard was 10 of 18 from the field and 15 of 15 from the foul line and had a season-high 13 assists. Jusuf Nurkic added 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting for the Trail Blazers.Paul George scored 27 points for the Thunder on a night when reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook struggled with his shot. Westbrook had 25 points... [More]

HOUSTON -- James Harden poured in a career-high 56 points, and the Houston Rockets rolled to a 137-110 victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.Harden fell one point shy of the franchise record held by Hall of Fame guard Calvin Murphy. He finished 19 of 25 from the floor, including 7 of 8 from behind the 3-pointer arc, while making 11 of 12 free throws. Harden added 13 assists.All five Utah starters scored in double figures, led by rookie guard Donovan Mitchell with 17 points off the bench.Hawks 117, Cavaliers 115CLEVELAND -- Dennis Schroder scored 28 points and depleted Atlanta stopped its eight-game losing streak by beating Cleveland.The Hawks, without five rotation players, built a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter but nearly let it slip away. Channing Frye missed a 3-pointer with one second to go that would have won it for Cleveland, and Dwyane Wade's missed tip-in at the buzzer would have tied it.LeBron James scored 10 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, Kyle Korver had 19... [More]

CLEVELAND -- Dennis Schroder scored 28 points, and the depleted Atlanta Hawks stopped their eight-game losing streak in stunning fashion by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-115 on Sunday.The Hawks built a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter but nearly let it slip away. Channing Frye missed a 3-pointer with one second to go that would have won it for Cleveland, and Dwyane Wade's missed tip-in at the buzzer would have tied it.The Hawks, playing without five rotation players, had not won since opening night.The Cavs have lost five of their last six games. LeBron James scored 10 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, Kyle Korver had 19 of his 23 in the fourth, and Wade finished with 25.Celtics 104, Magic 88ORLANDO, Fla. -- Boston won its eighth consecutive game, beating Orlando with another impressive defensive performance.Jaylen Brown led Boston's well-balanced attack with 18 points. Al Horford had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Jayson Tatum scored 13 points for the Celtics, who have built... [More]

CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored 34 points and piled up 13 assists while serving as the Cavaliers' point guard in Cleveland's 119-112 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.Kevin Love added 20 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland, which snapped a five-game losing streak to Chicago. Jeff Green and Dwyane Wade came off the bench to score 16 and 11, respectively, for the Cavaliers.Justin Holiday paced the Bulls with 25 points. Rookie Lauri Markkanen scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half and finished with five 3-pointers. Markkanen is the first rookie in league history to make 10 treys in his first three games.James usually handles the ball for Cleveland and is its assists leader on the season, but he played the point because Derrick Rose (sprained left ankle) was out and coach Tyronn Lue sought a bigger lineup.Magic 125, Nets 121ORLANDO, Fla. -- Aaron Gordon scored a career-high 41 points and hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 35 seconds remaining to lead Orlando over Brooklyn.The Magic's... [More]